RJD2 is being touted as the next big thing in many different magazines. For once in music history this statement actually means something because RJD2 is fucking amazing. His beats and samples are so tight that if his new album, Since We Last Spoke, was a bed youd be able to bounce a quarter seven leagues into the air from it. Originally from Ohio, RJD2 debuted as a member of Mhz and in 2000, he signed to Definite Jux as a solo artist.

Daniel Robert Epstein: What was the inspiration for your latest album?

RJD2: Its not that I was sick of rap music but I feel after all the stuff Ive done in the last year I had gotten it out of my system. So I felt enough freedom to do an album without any MCs on it. Other than that, I just want to get better at what I do with my same goals.

I did a couple of rap songs for the record but when it came time to sequence it felt forced and not natural. At that point I had a couple of other things I wanted to get out there.

DRE: I know you do a pretty impressive live show with your four turntables. Did you record the album with the same setup?

RJD2: No the album is done with a sampler. There is one little interlude that has some scratching on it and thats it.

DRE: What kind of equipment do you use?

RJD2: I use a MPC-2000, Pro-Tools records, keyboards, guitars and some other live instruments.

DRE: It seemed you had specific rock inspirations for the track, "Through the Walls."

RJD2: That was inspired by bands like The Cars and The Police. When I first find a sample I try to find some drums that work with it. That was one of those things that was just ridiculous. It was 140 beats per minute and it didnt sound like any hip-hop shit. The whole thing was done as an experiment. Nobody had ever done anything like this with samples. I just wanted to make it work.

DRE: How do you find your samples?

RJD2: Sometimes its going through records and other times Ill hear something in a song. Then I might just learn how to play the sample myself on the keyboard and do something similar to it. Most of the tracks come first from hearing samples then it could go in any number of directions.

DRE: When you are brought in to work with Aceyalone or Massive Attack what do you think they are looking for?

RJD2: I try not to think about what they are looking for too much. Ive never gotten a production job by calling somebody. Ive never called my favorite rapper and asked them if they need any beats. The things that Ive done have been because people called me. I kind of have to assume that theyve heard something so I try to do whatever I think is appropriate. Sometimes I know that what Im doing might not be what they expect. Generally I dont think people are too specific but who knows, maybe they are secretly disgruntled. But I try to approach it with the same creative manner I approach my solo shit with.

DRE: How does that approach differ from project to project?

RJD2: Its always relative. With the remixes Ive done I will listen to the original and think of how I could improve on that then I will listen to just the vocals so I could start from scratch. If I feel that I cant improve on the original music then I think of how I could do something different.

DRE: How much time did you spend on this latest album?

RJD2: About a year and a half, maybe a little more. I started it when I finished Dead Ringer in June of 2002 then I finished it up in January of 2004.

DRE: Is that all time spent in the studio?

RJD2: No I was on tour for a large chunk of that time. I brought the sampler and the computer with me on tour for some of the time but mostly I would tour then come back home and work. I will work then put it down for a while.

DRE: Some people have called you the most hyped producer in underground hip-hop and the best secret unknown to the mainstream. Do you like it that way or would you like to be in the mainstream more?

RJD2: I dont want to be the most hyped thing anywhere. What I would like to do is do production work for other people in the mainstream then keep my solo career as an independent thing. For a lot of reasons it makes sense to do that, to produce my solo shit through Def Jux and produce MCs on major labels.

DRE: I heard you just got back from Europe.

RJD2: Yeah.

DRE: How is it over there for you?

RJD2: Its cool. I play pretty much the same kind of venues that I play in America. Sometimes I end up in dance clubs more than I do over here.

DRE: How is that?

RJD2: Its ok. Sometimes I dont feel that its appropriate. If people arent there to see you but just there to get drunk and dance then they want to hear 50 Cent and Missy. Thats fine but Im not prepared to do that when I go on tour. Im doing my own material.

DRE: Obviously the DJ is a big deal over there. Do you discover new things when you are there?

RJD2: I dont have time to discover shit. Especially at this time of year when the album is coming out and I have so much press to do. Any free time I have the label fills with business shit for me to do.

DRE: How is it going with your label?

RJD2: I have no complaints and Im happy.

DRE: Do you still do work with Blueprint?

RJD2: Definitely. Were not working together at the moment but I just talked to him today. Were always talking about what were going to do next.

DRE: I read you gave your first album the nickname, Hip-Hop Instrumentals for Dummies?

RJD2: I think I said that at one point.

DRE: How would you compare the new album to that?

RJD2: Now Im not trying to do anything that falls within the parameters of hip-hop. Im just trying to make good music and do good songs.

DRE: When youre not doing music what do you do?

RJD2: Im either playing videogames or working on my house.

DRE: What are you doing to your house?

RJD2: I redid the kitchen but I still have some drywalling and plastering to do. There is just a ton of shit to do. I bought an old house last year so there is a lot of work to be done.

DRE: What videogames do you play?

RJD2: Right now Im playing the new Splinter Cell. I like it. It involves a lot of patience. Im into strategy games like Delta or Metal Gear.

DRE: Whats your favorite food?

RJD2: Sushi.

DRE: Do they have good sushi in Philadelphia?

RJD2: Its ok. There are only a couple of good sushi spots.

DRE: Youve been to Japan, is it good there?

RJD2: Everything is good there.

DRE: Are you into the punk girls?

RJD2: Ive got a girlfriend so Im basically married at this point. Im into whatever.

Seems like this thread is a bit old, but it was at the top of the list.

I loved Deadringer and Since We Last Spoke. The Soul Position stuff, that Aceyalone album and the mixtapes are all great.

But I HATE the third hand. I guess I was just expecting something else (something good). that was an album i actually pre-ordered. i dont know if it was just the fact that it wasn't hip hop djing, but there is only 1 or 2 tracks on the entire thing that are even worth a second listning.

Outside of that I have seen him live a few times and he does put on a great show.